Monthly Favourites | March.

March was a crazy busy month so it's been hard to dedicate as much time to the blog as I would like, however I can still share some of the things that have been my favourite through the month!
There are, as usual, specifically vegan products - however there are also a couple more personal things on the list that although they don't quite fit into my vegan theme I still feel I want to share them!

In March I managed to finish my normal toothpaste and decided to try something different .... and 100% vegan! I was worried that as it isn't mint flavoured I'd struggle to get on with it but it's a subtle and rather tasty flavour! This is a toothpaste aimed at sensitive teeth which I have suffered with in the past, I can honestly say this is the only toothpaste I have notice actually making a difference! My teeth are noticably less sensitive, I don't find myself preparing before sipping cold water or eating ice cream now! I bought mine from Holland and Barratt.

For the first time I'm including a book in my monthly favourites because I was in quite a reading slump that has finally ended thanks to this fabulous read. Anyone that enjoys YA, magical, fantasy novels will adore Poison Study as much as I did so I urge you to pick it up.
Health warning though that this is the first in a trilogy so you might end up needing to purchase more because the writing is beautiful, the story is incredible and I JUST NEED ALL THE BOOKS NOW PLEASE.

This month also led me to getting my third tattoo, all my tattoos have been done at the same parlour and two by the same artist. When it comes to getting something permanently put on your body it's vital you do research and are comfortable with the shop you get it done in .... and then stick with it if you get more!
Let me introduce you to Alfonso. When I was in my first year of university my housemate, in a fit of boredom, doodled on my feet... yeah that's kind of uni in a nutshell. One of the doodles was a little giraffe and at the time I thought it would make a cute tattoo, fast forward almost 8 years and I got the real thing! It is now a reminder of not only my housemates but all my friends that support me, raise me up and help me to stand tall. He's also pretty cute.
If you're ever looking to get some ink and are in Bath go to Northgate Tattoo (formerly Broadstreet Studios) they are professional, friendly and so talented it makes me a little sick.

I couldn't write a favourites post without including some food! This month I discovered Smooze ice lollies from Sainsburys. They are coconut and mango flavour which means they taste like frozen mango smoothie and are perfect on a hot sunny day .... which we had one of in the UK before it got cold again....
Even if the nice weather doesn't stick around these are a worthwhile staple for the freezer when you fancy something fresh, healthy and sweet.

Vegan Eats | Bath.

If you go travelling, eating as a vegan can occasionally make life a little awkward, but once you know where to go it doesn't have to be a struggle. I want to start a sort of series on the blog where I will post about places I eat whenever I travel elsewhere.... Let me know what you think and if it would be interesting to share!

I recently spent a weekend in Bath and sampled A LOT of the vegan options there, I'm going to share them so if you ever find yourself in the beautiful city you'll have some suggestions!

The Cosy Club:

I've experienced Cosy Club many times and it has been wonderful every visit, in fact we ate twice there over the two days we stayed!
There are a few options to try on the vegan menu, I opted  for the risotto as this is rarely a dish that can be catered for vegans what with all the cream that's normally used....

This was full of veg and flavour - more tomato based than you might expect from a traditional risotto but it's delicious none the less. Pair it with the scrumptious cocktails they have to offer and your evening is sorted!

On the last morning we returned for brunch, because long weekend breaks are made for brunching. I was very tempted by the avocado toast ... yes I am the basic vegan that loves avo, however this is a common option in many restaurants so instead I tried the vegan breakfast. A full English made vegan, how could I say no?
Instead of sausages or bacon they substitute falafel, I was unsure how this would work in a breakfast as I would normally have falafel for a main meal - they worked so well! The middle eastern flavours were intense but not over powering, they were soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
The one thing I would change is that the toast didn't come with any butter or other topping so was a tad dry.

Franco Manca:

Next we move to the most important of the food groups. Pizza.
Most pizza places cater well for vegans now and are happy to make them without cheese, if you want rustic, back to basic, wholesome pizzas then Franco Manca is the place for you!
The vegan option is a tomato, herb and garlic pizza, you just add any of the extra toppings you want - I had mushrooms, brocolli and roast potato... and in case you were wondering, yes potato is PHENOMENAL on pizza.

Thaikhun:

The last restaurant we visited served Thai food which is one of my favourites! The restaurant itself is fantastic with incredible, cluttered decor that's super colourful and unique, we couldn't help but go in! Nearly all their vegetarian dishes are also vegan so once again there was plenty to choose from!
The dumplings were potentially my favourite dish as they were soft, filling and packed with yummy! The main I had was tofu and cashews with rice, for such a simple plate the amount of different tastes was incredible. It was pretty spicy so watch out if you're not great with heat!

Chapel Arts Cafe:

No food list is complete without somewhere to get tea and cake! Chapel Arts Cafe is a completely vegan cafe with loads of cake options and they also do lunch.
The atmosphere is super chilled and a little eccentric, the perfect place to wind down after a long day walking around the sites of the city. They stay open late and often have live music as well!
This is such a unique establishment that is
tucked out of the way - without knowing it's there you might miss it but I can't stress enough how important it is that you give this place a try!